Shield #4 Justin Mullen 5 PP.jpg

Shield #4 Justin Mullen 1.jpg

GRAVENHURST - Just a little seasoning can go a long way.
Now in his second year with the South Muskoka Shield, Humphrey, Ontario’s Justin Mullen is truly starting to cook as his coaches serve him more and more playing time.
“Without question, he is our most improved player over the past two seasons,” said head coach and team general manager Dallyn Telford. “He has a tremendous work ethic, is great in the dressing room and has emerged as a leader on our team.”
A six-foot-tall defenceman, No. 4 came to the Shield as a forward. He cut his minor hockey teeth as a member of the North Muskoka league’s Lightning and came to Gravenhurst as a 17-year-old with height, but admittedly not a lot of weight.
“It was a tough transition to go from a league where I was one of the bigger players to a league where you’re playing against 21-year-olds,” Mullen said, adding he played one game at forward his first year before his coaches thought with his speed and long legs he might excel behind the blue lines. “I’ve been playing D ever since; as a defenceman I feel like I can see the ice better and being able to play both ways (offence and defence) it helps me anticipate better.
“The hardest part was just adjusting to the speed of the game,” he added. “I’m tall but not heavy, so I’ve had to adapt. I think I play a pretty physical game and rely on speed a lot.”
Mullen has left his offensive ways behind to play a rugged and entrenched defence. Almost 20 games into the season now, Mullen has posted three assists and about 45 penalty minutes.
“I couldn’t care less about (scoring) points anymore as long as we have two points (for the win) at the end of the game, that’s all that matters to me,” he said. “I try to stay out of the (penalty) box as much as I can but in a game, things happen. I just don’t want to let the team down by taking any dumb penalties.”
Telford said Mullen’s experience on the ice makes him the perfect weapon to control the puck and clock.
“His versatility allows us to use him in all situations and his competitive attitude gives us a chance to win every night,” Telford said. “Justin is a humble, hard-working guy and his personality and style of play epitomizes what the Shield stands for.”
Comparing last year’s team to the 2012-13 roster, Mullen said he believes the Shield has the talent to go further than the four-game semi-final sweep they suffered at the hands of Temiscaming to put an end to the 2011-12 year.
“We have the right attitude; I think we’re a deeper and more rounded roster this season and we’re an older team now too,” he said. “We have a good team, a great atmosphere and it’s really a lot of fun to be playing with the guys.”